Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Dear all,
I am viewing the profile of different candidate from different panels and also viewing election manifesto of various panels. Till now i found most of the candidate following the same political culture and agendas, which the candidate of our preceding generation follows. Likewise, it is very sad to say that even young candidate also follows the same. So, how we believe them that they will work for our vision of transformation of current status of engineering education and practice in Nepal. So i am putting questions to all the candidate, so that i can support and make other to support them in the NEA election.

To begin with, lets have a quick review of our past culture and activities. The preceding generations follows the rituals of joining a political party during their higher studies in universities and supporting the agendas put forwarded by the leaders, either they like or do not like that. And they keep their support in their professional life too. This political attachment is mainly due to fact that they cannot progress themselves without being attached to any of leading political parties. Conclusively, they give candidacy form same political party with the same non-progressive agendas put forwarded by the party. So, we do not have to looked after their personal profile while voting them. Although some of them argue that we are politically conscious but it is not clear where is self consciousnesses if one thinks only for one party mandates.

In contrast to preceding generations, i believe voters who are engineers themselves are not willing to cast vote to the single panels, which are also panels representing major failure political parties of Nepal. In addition, the candidate themselves mostly form the government and bureaucratic level are can be regarded as failure personality as most of them suggest their succeeding generation to go abroad. Moreover, according to them they itself become unskilled enough to struggle in other/foreign environment as they contribute their productive age in developing political career and supporting agendas of political parties. Therefore, this generations voters are finding their ideal candidate who can lead and apply their vision of internationalization of engineering education and practice in Nepal.

Here are some of my key question to candidate which will influence me and many other voters and make mind either to support them or not.

1. What are your professional and academic achievements so far in regards to which we can take u as our leader.
2. What is your key strategies to unify all other your co-members in NEA form different panels to implement your vision.
3. How will you address the aspiration and expectations of new generation Nepalese engineers who want internationalization in every activities. So what are your international exposures and linkage so that you can ensure this.
4. How you will address the issues of brain drain and immigration of bright and productive engineering manpower who should actually led the responsibility of advanced infrastructure and economic development and what are your key activities for reverse migration.
5. How will you address the issue of de-politicization of NEA and other institutions.
6. How will you promote innovation and standardization of engineering practice in Nepal.

Hoping to see your answers so that we can make mind to support you.
Thanks

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

I am writing this article about my experience while working in a research project in titled "Technical and economical pospective for the site implicaiton of low head gravitational water vortex power plant"with my research interns of Vortex Energy Solution from central campus pulchowk IOE, Abhash Acharya, Anil Nepal and Tara Aryal.

Abstract

The micro hydro powers are the most prospective and promising renewable energy sources for off-grid energy generation in remote areas. This study focuses on integrating a type of low-head micro hydro i.e gravitational water vortex turbine into existing water infrastructure. Three types of existing water infrastructure are considered applicable for hydropower integration: irrigation canals, reservoirs and weirs. The theoretical designs for the civil works for the low-head gravitational water vortex power plant integrated into these structures are given and the costs of construction are estimated. A scalable system of 1.6kW is also designed and integrated in a existing irrigation canal for the technical performance evaluation and validate the theoretical economical study. The study concludes that the performance of turbine is mostly suitable for rural electrification and to integrate in cost-effective way, the civil works and installation cost should be greatly reduced.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The best work is work that is fun! You enjoy your hobby, so why not take those great ideas, a little determination and turn your hobby into a career. I used to play battle game with own made archery that show up in hobby of working with machines, the more powerful a lead these things provided in steering me to meaningful professional and career choice as mechanical engineering. Choosing a hobby as career, besides outstanding academic achievements i also got opportunity to represent my nation in the international arena amidst other nation in the very start of my career. Asia- Pacific Robot Contest-or as it is more popularly refereed to, the ABU Robocon- was the very first international exposure to my career.

Perhaps it is the odd Hollywood movie—the kind the
industry churns out every once in a while—that has wrought in our minds visions
of mechanical wonders and futuristic worlds often too fantastic to be true.
Whimsically constructed machines are shown maneuvering in clearly
implausible environs, and these images that pop culture has to offer are
largely figments of people’s imagination, yet to be released.

For those living in Kathmandu, such mechanical innovations might seem even more
incongruous given our contrasting surroundings, which is why most of us will
find it hard to believe that there exist groups of young Nepali undergraduates
who toil every year to compete in an international robot competition. If that
wasn’t surprising enough, they’ve also, till date, always been
counted among-st the best teams from South Asia. In fact, the Nepali
team has even fared better in the Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, or as it is
more popularly referred to—the ABU Robocon—than India, a country noted for the
stellar quality of its technical universities and the prowess its graduates
have displayed in the field over the years.

A select, voluntary group of students in their third and fourth years of
Bachelor in Engineering Studies at the Pulchowk Engineering Campus—most from the
mechanical and electronics engineering departments—have been participating in
the ABU Robocon every year since the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
first introduced the contest in 2002. As a non-profit, professional association
of broadcasting organisations that aims to aid the development of broadcasting
in the Asia-Pacific region and promote the collective interests of its members,
the ABU’s involvement in the robotics competition is as much a cultural
celebration as it is a technical one.Every year
the organizers select a theme that is culturally significant, and
unique to the country that’s hosting the Robocon. The contest
itself is nothing short of a “world cup for robot and technology
enthusiasts” from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

In the year 2012 bout was set to take place in the glittering city of Hong Kong, and
the robots that participated were expected to complete a number of
allocated tasks, including travelling through simulated tunnels and bridges,
locating a ‘bun tower’ and snatching as many of these ‘buns’ as possible. As a
city made up of some 200 or so small-sized islands, Hong Kong’s landscape is
marked by a profusion of bridges and tunnels. So, the ‘landscape’ the
participating robots will have to man-oeuvre through during the contest—set to
took place on August 19—was a reflection of the city’s unique metropolitan
feature. It is interesting to note that these robots was being taking part in a
tradition that the people of Hong Kong’s tiny island of Cheung Chau have been practicing
for the past 100 years. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is an annual affair in
which three giant 60-foot bamboo towers, referred to as the ‘Bun Mountains,’
must be stripped of their buns. This was traditionally achieved by young men
clambering on top of the towers, but rules have evolved over the years, and
these days, only one person is designated to climb each tower.

The practice is believed to bring good fortune to the families of those who
manage to strip off the buns placed highest on the towers, and perhaps this is
where Robocon 2012 derives its slogan: ‘In Pursuit of Peace and Prosperity.’ The Nepali team set a goal to succeeds in putting up a good show at the festival, that will
mean a lot for this group of self-motivated students who have been working,
oftentimes without even going home to sleep, purely for the joy of creating,
reveling in the bit-by-bit progression of a machine which has come about
through their collective ideas and efforts.

There is nothing glitzy, or even the least bit glamorous about the one-storied
building from which the Pulchowk Engineering Campus’ Robotics Club
operates. In fact, the brick and concrete structure is rather garage-like; a
small group of young men—their hair disheveled and their shirt sleeves rolled
up—tinker on an assortment of greasy, noisy machines. Yet, they work
wholeheartedly—there is no easy way around this—for in it they find a practical
outlet for all that they’ve learnt in their three or four years of college, as
well as outside of it. Having thus synthesized their minds and energies into
one specific end, to get to compete with others with similar inclinations and
interests on an international platform is an incredible opportunity for the
team. Robocon gives the students at Pulchowk a “creative platform”, one
that helps advance their steps forward in the ever-intriguing field of
technology.

Government of Nepal
declared an energy emergency last February – the third one in the last eight
years – and targeted to end the energy crisis in two years. With the recent
change of government, the fate of the plan is in limbo. Hydropower, the major
source of Nepal’s electricity generation, can’t end Nepal’s energy crisis in
such a short time by virtue of its capital intensive and time consuming nature.
Alternative technologies like solar, micro-hydro, biogas, and wind have been
explored, and
for several reasons they have not been enough. More appropriate energy
generation technologies have to be explored to widen energy access to different
parts of Nepal.

A
relatively new technology invented in Austria in 2007 and improvised by
researchers of Nepal, shows promise of delivering small amount of electric
power, from few kilowatts up to 25 kilowatts, generated using the vortex of
flowing water. The technology is named
Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant (GWVPP). When water passes through a
strategically designed basin, vortex of water is formed causing the turbine
located at the center of the basin to rotate. The energy of the turbine can
either be used mechanically or be used to generate electricity. Compared to
most hydropower plants of Nepal that need hundreds of meters of head
(difference of height between the points from where water is first released
from river or dam to the location of turbine), and micro-hydro power plants
that need tens of meters of head, GWVPP can operate in less than a meter of
head.

With
relatively lower installation costs and low head requirement, these plants can
be installed in many places in Nepal, including Terai, thus providing a novel
alternative for electricity generation for places without access to national
electricity grid. Small power plants like these can be beneficial for small and
medium enterprises in using local and renewable energy resources, thus greatly
reducing operating costs and carbon footprint.

Nepali
researchers started research works in GWVPPs in Nepal since 2012. After
continuous efforts of several researchers of Nepal, two major innovations were
accomplished. Instead of original design with cylindrical basins, conical
basins were found to be more efficient in forming water vortices. Similarly, if
the turbine is positioned at 60 to 70 % of height from bottom, efficiency would
be optimum. These innovations were a result of rigorous mathematical modeling,
laboratory tests, and design efforts. The researchers overcame problems
typically faced by researchers in developing countries including lack of
adequate funding, lack of technical expertise, difficulty in manufacturing, and
little support from government and non-governmental bodies. The results obtained have been peer reviewed
and accepted by the scientific community in international conferences and
academic journals, including Elsevier’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews.

Only few research efforts
make it from academia to industry and society, which is even less so in Nepal.
Besides academic and professional recognition, scientists and researchers covet
the potential impact and implementation of their ideas and findings for society
the most. The improved design of Nepali researchers, currently patent pending, is
finding few takers in Nepal. Currently, a GWVPP of 1.6 kW capacity is being
installed in Bagmati River at Gokarna, Kathmandu. The plant will supply
electricity to a nearby orphanage and Martyr’s Park.

Technical and commercial
feasibility of installation of these plants have been studied for several
locations. The goal of the innovators is to install a minimum of 50 such plants
ranging from 5 kW to 20 kW capacity in the next 5 years. The initiative led by
Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus has garnered support from Kathmandu
University and University of Bristol. More research into financial, economic,
social and policy dimensions and implications of the technology are in
pipeline.

Low head
small scale hydro-electricity generation is feasible in many places of Nepal,
including Terai and has the potential to help abate the energy poverty Nepal is
facing. Innovations made in Nepal’s universities should find its way to society
and international scientific community. Research and innovation initiatives
like this should be supported by government, people, media, and all to
encourage Nepali innovators to develop appropriate solutions to Nepal’s
pressing problems.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

It is often claimed that scientist and researchers are
the citizens of the world; they have no boundaries. But as a researcher of
third world countries like Nepal the real challenge is when making the research
works recognizable to the world. Almost all of us researchers have dream to
discover new ideas which induce high impact to society and also want the ideas
be implemented in real world. To represent one’s nation in the international
arena, to hold its flag high amidst other nations, is a matter of great pride.
And the Research and Practice on Gravitational water vortex power plant was the
perfect opportunity for me and my fellow researchers at Institute of
Engineering, Central Campus Pulchowk.

After rigorous research of 3 years,
we the researchers of Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus have been
successful in optimizing a design of new and innovative technology addressing
the current energy crisis in Nepal. The Gravitational Water
Vortex power plant (GWVPP) is a new type of technology in which the energy of
flowing water is extracted by a turbine placed at the center of a vortex that
develops in a rotation tank (basin). Since such vortex can be formed at heads
as low as 0.7 m, the gravitational water vortex power plant do not need a large
head like other hydroelectric power plant. The construction cost is relatively
small. This makes them suitable on river across the Nepal, at thousands of
locations. GWVPP designed to be installed in remote areas of terai region that
would never see grid expansion and is designed to electrify a small community
of up to 200 homes per pant under Nepali consumptions patterns. As most of
cottage industries are located in such sector they can be benefited. This has
the possibility of removing the need for mega hydropower stations. The
installation of gravitational water vortex power plant can act as an exemplary
project that can have huge environmental benefit with no negative environmental
impact. Thus, for developing country like Nepal, this technology of power
production can be a boon to eradicate energy crisis.

Low
head turbine can be the most suitable option for rural electriﬁcation. GWVPP is
a new and emerging technique in context of low head hydro power. The research
on the gravitational water vortex power plant originates from Austria in the
year 2007.After introduction of GWVPP in Nepal as a master degree research
project of a student in the year 2012, it become eye-catching and interesting
topic for the researchers around Nepal. Two other batches of 2013 and 2014 of
mechanical engineering continued the research of GWVPP with the goal to
optimize the efficiency of power plant. Conventionally the Austrain are using
cylindrical basin structure to form a water vortex which is main source of
power in GWVPP. So our main interest to design the parameters of the vessel to
increase the strength of water vortex. With the rigorous research on the design
parameters for about 3 years we have developed a new mathematical model for the
design of the basin structure and got a conclusion that the conical basin
structure is efficient than cylindrical basin structure to create water vortex.
After finding a suitable basin structure to form water vortex, we move forward
to optimize the design of the turbine of power plant. With many experimental
testing and mathematical analysis we got a conclusion that the position of
turbine inside basin effect the efficiency to large extent and its position about
60%-70% height of basin from bottom position is optimum for maximum power
extraction. These two findings are breakthrough in research and development of
GWVPP. We have published research articles in many National and international
conference including world hydro conference at USA and Renewable Energy
Conference at Korea, with many awards like innovative awards, best practice
awards, special awards and best one is the publication in the world’s top
journal in Renewable Energy Field i.e. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

As
we all know, there are large impedances to explore your capabilities here in
Nepal and the challenge amplifies as it is a very small technological field.
Everyone has dream to serve their country but very few people are not obliged
to leave for abroad. My fellow colleagues who are involved in research project
have engagements which does not allow them to stay in Nepal but I am striving
here to commercialize the research findings. But some generous people form
inside and outside country helped me concerning commercialization of this
project which was noteworthy and made it conducive enough to test the patent
pending design successfully in Bagmati River at Gokarna, Kathmandu this week
which is of 1.6kW capacity. We are planning to supply the electricity to an
orphanage house and Martry’s Park near the site of installation.We have also taken the initiative to
commercialize this project in various regions of Nepal by doing feasibility
study at many locations with goal to lessen the imbalance between energy supply
and energy demand prevailing in the country by the effective utilization of
this technology and bringing about economic benefit for all. We have taken a goal that by the fifth year of the
project, minimum of 50 GWVPP of capacity ranging from 5kw to 20 kW will be
installed with continuation of the research in collaboration with Institute of
Engineering (TU), Turbine Testing Lab of Kathmandu University School of
Engineering, and University of Bristol, United Kingdom.

In a conclusion, our vision of empowering
the society by exploiting our own immense water and natural resource through
promising technology is appreciated by all. The experiences we collected during
the research and development of gravitational water vortex power plant made us
realize one important fact that we can lead in research and development in
globe if only we focus on the research based on technology that we have within
Nepal.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

The world is competing for energy and hydropower is a clean source of energy or electricity. The field of Hydro-power has often witnessed the discovery of new types of plants and components therein, by using simple principles of physics and mechanics. Gravitational water vortex power plant (GWVPP) has lately been eye-catching and interesting topic for researchers throughout the globe. The research work on GWVPP till now have found that the different geometrical parameters like (i) basin opening, (ii) basin diameter, (iii) notch length, iv) canal height, and v) cone angle are predominant in the design of basin structure of the Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant and also shown that the conical basin structure is more efficient than cylindrical basin structure. The study shows that the conical basin structure have 75% efficiency which is about twice more efficiency than the cylindrical basin structure. The past experimental study on three profiles of runners for GWVPP also shows that the runner having curved profile is more efficient than straight profile. Hence the gravitational water vortex power plant is now in the final stage of commercialization in Nepal.So this study encompass the economic feasibility study of the optimized conical basin and runner for the GWVPP in context of Nepal and the economic aspect of conical basin structure is compared with the economic aspect of various other type of low head power plant used for the power production. Also the comparative study of the economics aspect of GWVPP with the economic aspect of existing large hydropower projects of Nepal.

i)To conduct the case studies of the economic aspect of various low head turbine technology used in Nepal and compared it with GWVPP.

ii)To compare the economic aspect of the GWVPP with the economic aspect of existing large hydro power projects of Nepal.

Findings form this study will be considered as vital input in study of economic aspects of commercialization of Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant for the rural electrification of rural communities of Nepal.Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant is a new technology in which potential energy of water is converted to kinetic energy by a rotation tank (basin) and this kinetic energy of water is extracted by a turbine in the center of vortex.

Gravitation water vortex power plants do not need a large head like other hydroelectric plants; they can operate on heads as low as 0.7m. The construction costs are relatively small. This makes them suitable on rivers across the Nepal, at thousands of locations. This has the possibility of removing the need for mega hydropower stations. The installation of GWVPP can act as an exemplar project that can have huge environmental benefit with no negative environmental impact. Moreover, GWVPP is safe for fish due to low turbine speed and improves water quality by oxygenation. Thus, for a developing country, like Nepal, this technology of power production is a boon to eradicate energy crisis.

GWVPP in Nepal

Although the research on the GWVPP is started in the world in the year 2007, The Research on the GWVPP started in the year 2012 in Nepal in Tribhuvan university, Central Campus Pulchowk, Institute of Engineering. In first year the main area of focus is develop innovative low head water turbine for free flowing streams suitable for micro-hydropower in Terai region of Nepal. In the study, water vortex was created by flowing water through an open channel to a cylindrical structure having a bottom whole outlet. The research concluded that basin geometry depends on the discharge supplied.

Fig: Test Rig for the experimental study of GWVPP in IOE in year 2012

Runner for the power production

In the year 2013 the the study is carried out in two phases. In the first phase, two different turbines were designed and fabricated and the performance characteristics of the new turbines were compared with that of the Old turbine . The second phase included the design and fabrication of the conical basin. Experimental tests were carried out and the performance of the system using the conical basin was compared with that of the system using the cylindrical basin. The value of velocity head increases with the increase in depth. Hence greater efficiency was noted at the bottommost position. Similarly, the values of efficiency were greater for turbines with smaller number of blades. There was a significant distortion of vortex even with smaller loads in case of the turbine configuration with greater number of blades. Also, increase in the radius of the blades caused a decrease in the efficiency of turbines. The tests also indicated that the vortex strength of water in the conical basin is greater than that in the cylindrical basin. Consequently, turbine efficiency was greater in the conical basin compared to the cylindrical basin.

Fig: Cylindrical Basin Structure Fig: Conical Basin Structure

In the final year of the research an analysis of various geometrical parameters of conical basin design of the vortex plant is done. For given flow and head, the following parameters were considered: (i) basin opening, (ii) basin diameter, (iii) notch length, iv) canal height, and v) cone angle. The parametric effects on vortex formation and energy are evaluated in terms of vortex velocity by using state of the art procedures of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Different basin configurations were developed by using SolidWorks software and the models were simulated in the CFD code of ANSYS Fluent. Each parameter is varied individually and corresponding velocity (within a range of interest) is noted, which is followed by a development of mathematical model and is optimized using EXCEL. The so developed optimized model is fabricated and tested.

Fig: Test Rig for the experimental study of conical basin structure

Fig : Various Profile of runner used for the power production

Fig: Optimized design of conical basin structure

Now the GWVPP is in the final stage of commercialization in Nepal but the study of runner is yet to be made. The primilinary economic analysis shows that the cost of production of 1kw system is around 3 lakhs. This may vary according to cannel length, cost of civil structure to be made.

Comparitive Study with other low head power plant( Case of Improved water mills and Pico Hydro)

Improved Water Mills

The Improved Water Mill (IWM) is a modified version of traditional water mill. IWM is an intermediate technology that increases the efficiency of the traditional water mill resulting in increased energy output thus helping both the millers and its users. The improvement covers basically the replacement of wooden parts (rotor, shaft and chute) with metallic parts. This increases its operational efficiency as well as making it more useful with additional machines for hulling, electricity generation and so on. The rotations per minute (rpm) of the shaft range around 200-300 rpm while the power output ranges from 0.5 kW to 3 kW. The grinding capacity ranges from 20- 50 kg maize per hour. The frequency of repair/maintenance of IWM is low in comparison to TWMs while the life span is around 10 years. The chute is mostly wooden, sometimes however are found also of polyethylene or of tin sheet.

IWM technology can generate up to 3 kW of electricity sufficient for lighting and operating small electric and electronic devices such as television, radio, computer, battery charging stations, and other small electric home appliances.

Fig: Improved Water Mills

Improved Water Mill in Nepal

The history of development of Improved Water Mill (IWM) in Nepal dates back to the early 1980s, when the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), a research and development wing of Tribhuvan University (TU), developed a prototype of an improved version of water mill. In the prototype wooden paddles were replaced by hydraulically more efficient metallic blades, and a new bottom bearing. This prototype with a closed chute and a covered chamber was tested in a mill at Godavari, Lalitpur.

The technology was subsequently promoted among the farmers with involvement of a manufacturing company, the Kathmandu Metal Industries (KMI). The unit was called Multi- Purpose Power Unit (MPPU). A number of farmers adopted the technology; the experience of this effort was critical in further improving the technology and gain experience on its social acceptance.

Major efforts towards the improvement of water mill were initiated by GTZ/GATE under “Activating Traditional Indigenous Techniques” programme in which the traditional water mills were improved by using local materials and skills of village craftsmen. While the metal parts mainly the kit runner, shaft/axle, and belt/pulley were improved the other parts of the water mill such as chute, framework, stone grinder, canal and intake were kept intact without any change. This provided the interested entrepreneurs an opportunity to install IWM with low investment.

For generation of 1kw power the cost of installation is about NPR 3,8000W. Operational cost varies according to the type of end use.

Economic Aspect

Before the installation of IWM electrification, most of the villagers were using kerosene for lighting. Around 1.5 litres of kerosene was consumed per household per month. At NPR 70 per litre, the 35 households of the community spent about NPR 44,100 (USD 555.2) on kerosene annually.15 This expenditure was reduced to NPR 21,000 after the community installed an IWM with 3 kW electrification. IWM program also promote the women empowerment as the time and effort given to the hulling of maize and other crops gets lower.

Pico Hydro

The development of Pico Hydro Power plant is started by the organization PEEDA in Nepal. Pico Hydro system are used in remote areas to supply electrical power to areas with no grid connection. They are usually intended for lighting application. Micro Hydro Power plant are of size 200W to 2KW. To address the commercialization utilization of Pico Hydro Power plant PEEDA recently has developed a new controller in the industrial collaboration with Kathmandu Energy and power Group (KAPEG) under Renewable Nepal Programme. With the new excitation system and control system added, new ELC is able to start the drill machine, television, computer and other electronic equipment’s that require high inrush current to operate. Thus for the first time, Pico hydro system with self-excited induction generator can be used to operate income generating power tools and processing equipment’s. Despite the initial cost per KW, the minimal cost required for running the scheme and great potential for it to open up new revenue streams, make the technology not only economically feasible, but also profitable for the poor communities of Nepal. The electrification of people’s homes reduce their use of fossil fuel and traditional biomass.

Comparison of economic aspect with other low head power plant

In comparison to economic aspect of other different low head power plant like IWM, Micro Fransis, Pico Propeller, cross flow turbine etc. , The cost of installation of the Gravitational water vortex power plant is comparable to all of us. The major benefit of the installation of GWVPP is GVP plants can use local materials and do not need to dam the water to operate.The GVP plant merely uses the water for a few seconds as it flows on its way down stream. GVP is designed to be installed in remote areas of flat region that would never see grid expansion into local villages and is designed to electrify a small community of up to 200 homes per plant under Nepali consumption pattern. As most cottage industries are located in such sector they can be benefited. Hence Gravitational Water vortex Power Plant can be a step toward a green industrial development as the materials used for construction of GVPP be bought locally and those living close to the GVP plants can maintain and repair the generators and mechanical components themselves. Thus GVPP installed in existing irrigation projects is economic way of Agro based industrial Development and also for rural electrification electrical poles.This means revenue circulates throughout a local area and the community sees a direct economic benefit. Thus GVPP installed in existing irrigation projects is economic way of Agro based industrial Development and also for rural electrification.

Comparison of economic aspect with large hydro power plant

We have taken a large-scale project first, the Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project. The project cost is estimated at NRs.35.29 billion equivalent to US $441 million excluding interest for five years on the project (with exchange rate of 1US$= NRs. 80) and will have a Maximum Output of 456MW per day during the monsoon. Cutting that number by 60% or more during the dry season. The additional cost is in 132 kV High Voltage Transmission Lines for future grid extension between$8000–10,000 per km and rising to around $22,000 in difficult terrain. Sub-station construction and additional road building at $20,000per km. Hence the project cost would be round off to $500 million and also these lines will bypass most rural communities on its wayto India in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Comparing smaller GWVPP plants using local materials, the cost of each plant can comes in around$10,000 and does not dam the water in order to operate. The GWVPP plant merely uses the water for a few seconds as it flows out the bottom on its way downstream. Just the environmental advantages to its usage warrant further investigation as a solution.GVP is designed to be installed in remote areas that would never see grid expansion into local villages and is designed to electrify a small community of up to 200 homes per plant under Nepalese consumption patterns.

If we use the same figure of$500 million for one large project that provides diminishing electrical output as rains decrease from October to May each year, we could build 50,000GVP plants. These plants generating 57 MWh per year would equal 2,850,000MWh or 2,850 GWh annually fed directly to the local communities in remote locations that need it most. The forecast annual energy output from the ‘Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project’ is 2,281GWh. We can generate more power from GWVPP, save on the amount of construction materials and do not need to dam an entire river.

Acknowledgement

This study acknowledges the support from Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Ministry Of Science, Technology & Environment, and Government of Nepal. We would like to express our deepest gratitude towards our Project Supervisors Prof.Dr. Tri Ratna Bajracharya , Associate Professor Dr. Hari Neopane and Assistant Professor Er. Raj Kumar Chaulagin. We would also like to thank to members of PEEDA, CRE, Grid Nepal for providing us valuable information.

Conclusion

The feasibility study showed that low head Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant fill a gap in the Nepalese renewable Energy Market. This study shows that GWVPP is viable and attractive option for poor rural communities and can greatly benefit them. A figure of 50000 such sites are highly suitable for the low head Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant. Wide range of benefits include socio-economic, financial and environmental gains. The low head GWVPP also provides an opportunity to address current rural/urban and regional energy access disparities of Nepal.

Rabin Dhakal

I am a positive thinker. I am ambitious. So i love challenges, hard work and working with hard working brilliant people from all over the globe, both for technical innovation as well as social transformation. I love to be called a global citizen with humanity as the only border and want to make a difference in the whole world through research and innovation. I aspire to become an internationally recognized expert in the field of energy and multidisciplinary filed of hydro-power technology.